Kurt Cobain's Daughter Talks Music Ambitions, Reveals New Song

Frances Bean Cobain. Screenshot via Instagram / @space_witch666

Frances Bean Cobain, daughter of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, has revealed her plans to pursue a music career. It comes after she previewed her first original song on the eve of the late Nirvana singer’s death.

Frances was only 18 months old when Kurt Cobain died, but being the daughter of both Cobain and Love, it’s no real surprise that she has musical ambitions. She’s also a visual artist, but has  previously released footage of herself singing covers of songs like Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”.

And she’s not channelling the grunge, post-punk sound of her parents either. Not yet, anyway. But she has a strong, powerful and emotive voice so it’ll be intriguing to see what type of music she does eventually make.

Kurt Cobain, from Nirvana, photographed in October 1990 outside the Dalmacia Hotel, Shepherd's Bush, London. © Martyn Goodacre

The song she revealed on her Instagram was only a snippet of her giving an acapella performance of a single verse. But given her parentage there is a huge interest in any original songwriting and performing she does.

The track appears to be a tribute to her dad, with the lyrics stating, “I think I saw you when I was small. I think I found you, a penny for your good thoughts/ I think I found you, Jesus hangs in your place on the cross.”

Nirvana in Madrid during their European Tour of In Utero in July 1992. © Steve Double

Confirming that this isn’t just a one-off, Frances spoke to E! Online on the red carpet of the Daily Front Row Fashion Awards about making more music. “With regards to music, I don't want to pigeon hole myself and say I am a musician or a visual artist because I feel like it's all encompassing and I feel like every bit of my art is related to the other.” she said. “So do I want to pursue my music further and see it come to fruition and see something further and see something palpable? Absolutely."

Speaking about the 45 seconds of song she’d previously revealed on Instagram she cautioned people not to get too carried away with it, and instead take it for what it was. “Do I want to say that that was an official release? No! It was an Instagram post.” she said.

Kurt Cobain, from Nirvana, sleeping backstage after supporting Sonic Youth at Sir Henry's Pub, Cork in August 1991. © Ed Sirrs

She was also asked about what her dad might think of her music, even though such a question is somewhat premature. Still, she replied quite wisely stating. “I don't have an answer for that because I don't want to speak on someone else's behalf. I would hope that he would be proud of the human being I am even if he didn't like the art I am putting out. That's all I would ask of anyone in my life."

When Frances originally shared the video (which has since been deleted) she noted that not having a TV has helped with her creativity, along with her being “super restless”.

“I can't play guitar with long nails so I'm just sitting in my room alone singin' to mah self," she wrote. "Not having a TV in my house is the best decision because I'm forced to occupy my time with things that feed my brain and soul instead of wasting energy on thinking about not having to think".

Check out the 45 second snippet of Frances singing, below.

Rockarchive is delighted to be able to offer these and many other iconic Kurt Cobain and Nirvana images as limited edition photographic prints which you can buy here.